Activists: Clashes as rebels push to break Syrian government siege near Damascus leave 70 dead
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Activists say rebels fighting to break a Syrian government siege of the opposition-held suburbs of Damascus have clashed with soldiers in battles that left over 70 dead on both sides.
Rami Abdurrahman of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and an activist based in the nearby Qalamoun region said Sunday that the fighting happened overnight. It's a high toll for a one-day battle.
Abdurrahman said rebels included foreign fighters loyal to al-Qaida and the government forces included gunmen from Lebanon's Shiite militia Hezbollah. He said at least two Syrian media activists were also killed as they covered the clashes.
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There was no word on the battle from government media.
President Bashasr Assad's forces blockade rebel-held areas where they can, to starve out civilians and pressure fighters into surrendering.